Mechanism for use in building concrete structures.



I. N. GATES. MECHANISNI FOR USE IN BUILDING CONCRETE STRUCTURES.

- APPLlcATloN F|LEo1uLY11.19|3.

1,1 90,240. v Patented Jul'yA, 1916.

I @alg l LI-55| J7 7 IIIIIIII j, Iium UNITED sTATEs A PATENT OFFICE. i

ISAAC N. GATES, OF JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS, 'ASSIGN OR 0F ONE-HALF TO DANIEL R. SHEEN, 0F PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

` Patented July 4, 1916.

Application filed July 11, 1913. Serial No. 778,573.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Isaac N. GATES, citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for .Use in Building Concrete Structures; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. j

This invention relates to mechanism for use in building concrete structures. The invention pertains particularly to a mold in which to place the concrete of which the structure is to be built.

The object of the invention is to provide a mold for constructing the w'alls of a building which includes a clamp having hingedly attached portions to carry separate depending mold-board sections one of which may be raised upon its hinge out of the way to permit a floor section to be added to the wall beingV constructed in such a 'wav that the whole will form a complete monolithic struc,- ture.

In addition, the invention relates to certain details of construction to be clearly pointed out herein and to form the subject of certain of the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 is an elevation of a retaining clamp showing certain novel parts, said clamp being shown in connection with a partially constructed vdouble wall. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a split feed-nut. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the adjacent ends of mold-boards and a connecting clamp.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the clamp shown in Fig. 1 but much larger in size. Fig. 5 shows, in perspective, a part of the lower portion of a clamp. Fig. 6 shows a portion of the clamp with certain parts removed and a part substituted, and illustrating certain adaptabilities.

The mold consists of certain mold-boards, as I shall term them, Vheld in position for receiving concrete' by means of a clamp of the type shown in my co-pending Vapplication #617,045, filed March n 27, 1911, for mechanisml for use in building concrete structures. In the following specification I shall merely describe this clamp sufliciently to make its struct-ure understood paying at-r tention, more particularly, to the partsl connected with it by which certain operations are performed in the building of a complete monolithic structure. i

A A and B B represent four moldboards between which thel concrete to form the structure is to be placed, as will appear later, the upper and lower edge of each of the inner mold boards A B having on its inner surface facing the other boards A B a iange X the purpose of which will also appear later herein. The mold boards A A are employed to retain the concrete for the outer portion of a double wall the mold boards B B being employed to contain the concrete for an inner portionof said double wall but it is to be stated that I may also construct -a wall of a single thickness, or 'a wall of three or more spaced parts. The clamp consists of two outer upright arms C C and inner ones GG to which the several mold vboards are attached. These arms may be castings or they may be formed from angle steel. The upper end of each arm C has an `arm D extending at right angles to it which lie substantially parallel to one another spaced apart by a spacing block E. f

F is a threaded rod extending through said arms and the spacing block and provided with wing-nut-s or thumb-nuts F outside the arms. Between the said arms D and the spacing block is a pair of clamping arms G through which the said thread bar F also extends. These said arms depend from the thread bar and lie between the arms C C parallel thereto and each forms a clamp together with one of the latter.

H H indicate two bars which lie adjacent the arms D. These are carried at one of .their ends by the threaded rod F. Their'.

outer or opposite ends are bent at right angles into extensions J and each'receives a threaded adjusting rod K lying parallel to the arms D. The latter are preferably slot-- ted as shown at D to permit them to be shifted upon said threaded'r'od. The members H cannot move endwise with respect to the threaded rod F but the adjustment of the members K in the extensions J will result in the movement of the clamp arms C C toward one another ina contrary direction, this being permitted b v said slots.

Substantially midway of the length of all of the clamping Varms C G is a clamping mold-board section B2.

f" Yso thread-bar consisting of a series of sections L. In the present instance this bar consists of three of said sections loosely connected by any suitable means such as the universal joints M, for example. The several sections are carriedV by split-feed nuts N pivoted to each of the said clamping arms C G. The split-nuts each consist of two parts hingedly connected at one end and the other end of one of them carries a thumb screw to engage the other. The nut thus constructed is piv* oted to each arm of the clamp and opposite the pivot the arms are each notched so that when brought together ahole is formed for receiving one of the thread bars, said hole being properly threaded for the purpose. lhile the inner clamping arms Gr are of a certain length the outer arms C C are extended some distance below said inner ones by means of extensions consisting of pivoted portions or extensions C each carrying a The lower ends of the said arms C are extended outward into the projecting parts C2 and the said portions C are pivoted thereto for instance at C3, the pivot thus formed being spaced somewhat from the inner clamping surface of the arm so that when the said portion C is swung on its pivot it will be moved some distance outward and entirely away from the line of the clamping surface.

C4 is a pin adapted to enter registering holes in the arms C and the pivoted portions C, but one of which is shown at C5, Fig. 5. By means Vof said pin the pivoted extension can be secured rigidly in its working position so that the clamping surfaces of both the boards A, B and the sections B2 will be held properly in line as indicated in Fig. 1. The pivot and the pin are preferably widely spaced so that the strain brought upon the pivoted portions due to clamping the parts upon the structure being erected willnot be suflicient to disarrange any of the parts or result in their breakage.

All of the mold boards A A B B are substantially of the same width and terminate about the same leyel at their lower edges as indicated in Fig. l. The lower edges of the two outer mold boards A B are preferably beveled downwardly and inwardly, as clearly illustrated in this ligure, and the upper edges of the boards B2 of the pivoted sections C are beveled to conform to the bevels of the lower edges of the said outerrmold boards, the arrangement being such that the joint between the two mold board sections at the inner or wall surface shall be very tight or such as Ato leave no crack or opening for the concrete to work through.

In Fig. 3 the spaced ends oftwo of the mold boards B are represented when the latter must be so used for one reason oranother not necessary to state herein. P is ay metal plate adapted .to lie upon the outer sides of each of the mold-board sections at their ends to span the gap between them. One or more thumb screws S are adjustable in threaded holes (not shown) in the plate l, the ends of said screws being suitably attached to a support not shown which together with said plate clamps the latter upon the mold boards.

By a study of Fig. 2 it will be observed that the plate P has been raised to expose the lower' mold-board section for certain purposes to be explained later. ln order that the plate may overlie the section B2 and in order also that it can be raised to expose said section I employ some means of adjusting it upon and attaching it to one of said boards. For example T is a slot extending through the plate P and lying in a perpendicular position. U is a screw or pin secured in the mold board B and extending through the said slot and suitably constructed to prevent the plate from becoming detached. The slot is provided in order that while holding the clamp upon the boards A or B it will permit said clamp to be raised. After loosening the thumb screws S and adjusting the clamp, said screws upon being tightened hold the clamp in its changed position.

A description of the method of use of my improved apparatus follows: The moldboards are set upon the ground or clamped upon either a single or double wall previously constructed and if desired may be properly braced to hold them in upright positions and to hold them inline, whereupon the concrete is filled in between the several boards A` A', B B resulting in the formation of a bottom portion of solid one piece construction surmounted by two spaced wall portions, see Fig. 6. When the concrete be comes set the clamps are loosened by rotating the sectional clamping thread-barLL in the proper direction. The sections L of the said clamping thread-bar are so threaded that rotation of said bar will result in carrying' the two outer clamping arms C either outwardly together with their mold boards, or inwardly to clamp the boards to the structure, while the inner clamping arms G will be moved toward or away from one another thus also adjusting the mold boards A B. Having removed the clamps the mold is raised around the entire wall and clamped in position, the mold board sections B2 being clamped upon the upper part of the structure already built and set. The filling in of the concrete is now continued around the entire wall since the mold is a continuous one. After the entire four walls of the building and connecting walls, if any, are started in the manner described the addition of new concrete material can be filled in until the desired height of wall is reached.

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If fioors are to be built into the structure it is done in the following manner. In filling in the last course of concrete before reaching the desired floor level said concrete is brought only to the top surface of the flange at the top edge of the mold-boards. When this filling becomes set and the clampvis removed recesses are left in which a bridging board 3 is placed. The clamps upon being raised to the position shown in Fig. l the pivoted mold boards B2 are clamped to the structure, the lower ends of the inner mold boards A B being spaced above the bridging board a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the floor to be constructed. The concrete is thenl filled in upon the said bridging board to a little less than the thickness of the completedfloor after which areinforcing member 4 (a link) is placedin position for receiving the hooked end of a supporting tie-rod, or reinforcing-rod, 5.` It is to be understood that the concrete must have sufficiently set to support the weight of the said link 4, however, and then the wall portion between the mold-board A A is filled in and allowed to set. After this setsl it will support the clamps and the mold-boards so that the pivoted mold-board sections B2 at that side of the mold from which the floor is to extend can be raised. However suitable bracing may be used in addition if desired. l

Suitable false-work 6 is constructed for supporting the concrete floor being put in place, so that when the said mold-board section B2 is raised, the said tie-rod 5 can be attached tothe link and the mold may then be entirely filled up to the tops of the moldboards A B the concrete for the floor at the same time being laid upon the said false work 6. It is understood that in this operation the inner mold-boards B2 are raised, this being done around the entire wall s0 that the entire floor can be completed from all sides thereby making an absolutely unit structure throughout, all of the connections of the walls with the floor being laid of green material so that an absolute uniting of the materials at all points must be the result.

In F ig. G I have shown a method of building a wall adjacent to an earth wall or in an excavation within which a wall is to be erected, and in which the solid earth backing is used as the part against which to construct the wall of concrete. In this figure it is noted that one of the clamping arms C has been removed and in its place any suitable extension '7 is employed to abut against the said earth wall. A suitable brace 8 anchored in the ground, or attached to some convenient structure, serves to support the clamp in position. In the process of building the wall, until the top of the ground is reached, the flanges X in this instance will serve their purpose wellf *Whenf 'the clamp is .raised after building the ground layerof concrete shown, the lower flanges are made to engage in the recesses formed by the upper flanges and thereby the clamp is firmly held in position for further operations, the missing arm C being then attached in place of the part 7.

I have described the link 4 and the tierod or reinforcing-rod 5 not because they are new, nor because their use is novel but merely in order to show the ease with which they may be placed in position and to show the ease of manipulation of the clamp particularly with regard to moving the pivoted mold board sections B2 out of the way when proceeding with the construction of the floor, there being no parts in the way of the reinforcing members, nor any parts to interfere with the various operations.

Of'course, if' the sections C were detachable the work could still be carried on but by pivotally attaching them they are not likely to become lost and are always ready at hand.

Where it is desired to reduce the thickness of the walls as they increase in height the split nuts on the arms C C can'be opened and the clamping arms shiftedftoward one another upon the thread-bar L sufliciently to make the distance between them substantially equal to the thickness of the'thinner wall to be constructed whereupon the said split nuts are clamped upon the thread bar. the clamping arms and mold boards are then adjusted to the proper parallel position and operated as before to` tighten the arms upon the structure, said bar working in all of the split nuts of the series ol' clamping arms. In this event the outer mold boards A B are made tohrest upon the layer of concrete previously 'filled in, the mold being supported in position-by any suitable means until the first filling of the concrete under this arrangement is completed and set. In this event both surfaces of the wall are set in. However, if but one of the arms C is adjusted the surface of the wall at that side only will be set in the other being flush. Either method is open for use.

In some instances during'the work of construction, one of the portions C and its board B2, the outer one, is not raised and for all such operations a clamp having but one of the pivoted portions may be adopted or a clamp wherein one of the arms is rigid throughout, or of one piece. Again, where but a single wall is to be constructed the flanges X X may be used upon the boards A B or one of them and I may place the flanges only on one of the inner boards A B if I choose.

I may make changes of one kind or anlVith adjusting rods IQ other in the construction of the parts and the arrangement of the same without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention, since these will be such as would be considered as lying within the meaning of said invention.

I claim- 1. In a structure of the nature described, the combination of a pair of clamping arms each including a mold board adapted to be irictionally secured upon a wall in process of construction, a portion pivoted to one of the parts of the structure and also including a mold board having its working surface in the same plane with that of one of the arms, means to fix the portion rigid relative to the structure, and means to clamp the structure upon a wall, the described portion adapted to be removed from contact with the wall and swung relatively to the structure whereby the Construction material may be placed beneath it for continuing said material in a direction at right angles to the plane of said wall.

2. In a structure of the nature described, the combination of a pair of clamping arms each including a `mold board adapted to be i'rictionally secured upon a wall in process of construction, a portion pivoted to Vone of the parts of the structure and also including a mold board having its working surface in the same plane With that of one of the arms, means to {ix the portion rigid relative to the structure, means to adjust the arms in parallelism, and means to 'clamp them upon the wall, the described portion adapted to be removed from contact with the wall and swung relatively to the structure whereby the material of which the wall is being constructed may be placed beneath it for continuing said material in a direction at right angles to the plane of said wall.

3. In mechanism of the Character described for building an inclosing wall, the combination of a continuous mold extending around the site to receive the inclosure comprising a mold board-lying outside and adjacent the wall site, a mold board lying inside adjacent the wall site, a pair of mold boards spaced from one another and Jfrom the first described boards, inner and outer bridging members lying upon the adjacent ends of all of the mold boards for closing the spaces between said ends, means to clamp the mold boards to the wall being constructed including an arm for each board, movable extensions on the inner 10st arm of the clamps, and mold boards carried by the extensions and movable therewith with respect to the mold boards of the arms, said extensions and their mold boards adapted to be removed from the wall structure to permit placing beneath them the material of which the wall is being constructed for extending the structure at right angles to the plane of the wall.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC N. GATES.

Witnesses:

W. I. SLEMMONS, L. M. THURLow.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

